Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17582644826551758264479942.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rep. Elizaldy Co on September 14, 2022. <em>Press and Public Affairs Bureau handout/File</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has revoked the travel clearance of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and ordered him to return to the Philippines after he was implicated in the flood control mess.</p><p>In a letter dated September 18, 2025, Dy told Co that &quot;your existing Travel Clearance for your personal trip is hereby revoked effective immediately.&quot;</p><p>&quot;This revocation is issued in the paramount interest of the public and due to the existence of pressing national matters requiring your physical presence,” the letter read.</p><p>Dy instructed Co, the former chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee, to “return to the Philippines within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of this notice.</p><p>&quot;Your immediate return is necessary to address the aforementioned matters with urgency,&quot; he added.</p><p>Dy said Co could face disciplinary and legal actions if he fails to follow the directive.</p><p>Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco previously accused Co of inserting P13.8 billion in the bicameral version of the proposed 2025 budget, which included funds for flood control and other infrastructure projects.</p><p>Co, who is reportedly in the United States to seek medical treatment, has denied the allegation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/zaldy-co-should-be-brought-back-to-ph-forcibly-if-necessary-puno-0946">Zaldy Co should be brought back to PH, &#x27;forcibly if necessary,&#x27; says Puno</a></div><p>DOUBT Meanwhile, ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima intends to request Co’s medical certificate through the House secretary general amid doubts that Co was actually on medical leave. “Totoo ba ‘yung medical leave na ‘yan? [...] Kung totoo man ‘yung sinasabing medical leave ay okay na naman siya na bumalik na ngayon. Importante po eh. ‘Di puwede ‘yan na wala siya. Lalong nagdududa, nag-aagam agam ang mga tao,” De Lima told reporters.</p><p>“I will ask my colleagues in the minority bloc or some of them na samahan ako sa paghingi ng impormasyon na ‘yan. And I intend to do it on Monday, this coming Monday,” De Lima added.</p><p>Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña agrees with other lawmakers who have talked about the need for Co to return to the Philippines.</p><p>“So itong panawagan para pauwiin si Congressman Zaldy Co at itong panawagan para humarap siya– this is just at nararapat lamang as a public servant. ‘Yung ganitong minimum na requirement na tayo ay bumalik sa trabaho at humarap sa pananagutan,” Cendaña said.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega, meanwhile, believes there is technology available now so Co could air his side.</p><p>“Kung mayroon siyang health concern, he’s attending to his personal health, siyempre hindi naman po natin pwedeng kuwestiyunin ‘yun. But he can answer in different forms. We have technology already. He can answer, and he can make a statement via social media, Zoom, or a statement,” Ortega said.</p><div><strong>ROMUALDEZ ASKED TO ‘RALLY AROUND’ DY</strong></div><p>According to Ortega, Dy’s predecessor, former House speaker Rep. Martin Romualdez, told House lawmakers to support the new speaker of the lower chamber.</p><p>“Actually ang bilin ni Speaker is rally around Speaker Bojie, give him the support that you gave me and I&#x27;m sure everything will be as planned. Kasi po namap-out na po natin ang mga priorities ng ating pangulo, ‘yung mga priorities niya nung SONA at ‘yung prioritization nitong budget. So talagang mabigat din ang binigay na endorsement ni Speaker Martin kay new Speaker Bojie na tulungan natin siya para maging successful itong term tsaka speakership niya,” Ortega said.</p><p>De Lima said she will be talking to Dy on Monday to ask him to immediately enact and certify as urgent to the president House Bill 4453.</p><p>This seeks to establish an independent commission to investigate supposed misuse of flood control funds meant to have more power than the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI). “Plano din namin, perhaps on Monday, na kausapin na rin the new speaker about the need to immediately enact itong bill na ‘to at ipa-certify sa pangulo as urgent,” De Lima said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/sandro-marcos-urges-zaldy-co-to-come-home-face-allegations-1850">Sandro Marcos urges Zaldy Co to come home, face allegations</a></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zAqn6w-Qc-A" title="Zaldy Co, Chiz Escudero to blame for 2025 budget controversy, says Puno | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8XtcQ62Ye_w" title="Rep. Zaldy Co should clarify ties to SunWest, alleged budget insertions: lawmaker | DZMM TeleRadyo" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has revoked the travel clearance of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and ordered him to return to the Philippines after he was implicated in the flood control mess.</p>

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has revoked the travel clearance of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and ordered him to return to the Philippines after he was implicated in the flood control mess.

Speaker revokes Zaldy Co’s travel clearance, orders his immediate return

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Speaker revokes Zaldy Co’s travel clearance, orders his immediate return

Jamaine Punzalan,

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 19, 2025 02:49 PM PHT

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Updated September 19, 2025 08:24 PM PHT

Read More:

House

Bojie Dy

Zaldy Co

budget insertion

DPWH

corruption

flood control

baha

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